“Inclusiveness and valuing and practicing diversity on many matters is important. People should feel that they are equally valued and heard for a successful team work.”
Dr. Serpil Guran is the Faculty Mentor representing Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Learn more about Dr. Guran’s diverse education background, her clean energy business incubator, and the most important leadership lesson she’s learned.
Q: What university are you the Faculty Mentor for and what is your area of expertise?
Dr. Guran: I’m a Faculty Mentor at the Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey’s EcoComplex “Clean Energy Innovation Center”. My expertise has evolved from hands on research on “Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Clean Fuels and Chemicals” to teaching clean energy and sustainability, policy development on clean energy, and also promoting clean energy and clean technology innovations and business incubation.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love scuba diving and travelling especially to exotic places around the World. Visiting interesting places and meeting new people and learning about cultures and cuisines are great experiences.
Q: What attracted you to becoming a mentor for the CABLE program and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
Partnering with Cable proved that our students benefit by learning about components of bioeconomy including feedstocks, conversion technologies and end products. Students also learn that successful bioeconomy is not only achievable through economic sustainability but also environmental sustainability and social justice. Our students also learn the connections between the components of Food-Energy-Water Nexus concept and its relations to bioeconomy. Also, CABLE collaboration does not only benefit our students but also us. Cable serves as a driving force for us to communicate regularly and potentially collaborate. I am hoping to create joint research projects with my fellow faculty mentors.
Q: How do you think being a mentor for CABLE Student Delegates will impact their leadership development?
My background is quite diverse including research, teaching and policy development. I also manage a clean energy business incubator and have an understanding on what involves with start-ups and the problems they face. I have seen good & successful leaders in the biomass to energy sector and also not-so successful projects. I would think sharing these experiences with my student delegate benefits his/her current and future endeveaurs.
Q: If you could pass on any wisdom to CABLE Student Delegates, what would you share?
I accumulated an experience on how to deal with people from regular citizens to decision makers and legislators. Raising voice freely about an issue and letting others about your thoughts and meanwhile listening to the other opinions and practicing interest-based negotiation and not-necessarily just give up but evolving thoughts are important. Also always value science, reliable-data and facts. Learn what involves with critical thinking and basically read, think and decide critically.
Q: What is the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable?
Inclusiveness and valuing and practicing diversity on many matters is important. People should feel that they are equally valued and heard for a successful team work.